Belleville East looks for improvement during ‘16 golf season

The start of another high school season has brought with it an improved work ethic, more experience and excellent senior leadership for what should be a much improved Belleville East boys golf team during the 2016 season.

Led by senior co-captains Austin Galloway and Andrew O’Bryan, the Lancers have played well in both the Alton Tee-Off Invitational and Goalby-Haas Classic this week and could contend for the title at the St. Clair County Tournament on Monday at Tamarack Country Club in Shiloh.

The reason for the good start is simple according to veteran Lancers coach Terry Neutzling.

“Our players went out this summer and put in the work on improving their games. It’s nice to see the lower scores in the early going as a result of the hard work,’’ Neutzling said. “We have a good group of seniors and juniors and so for at least the next two years, the outlook is good. I’m very encouraged by what I see so far.’’

In Galloway and O’Bryan, Neutzling has two solid players who have been varsity performers for the last three years and qualified for the Class 3A sectional a year ago. A third senior — David Wynn is also a good player capable of breaking into the mid to upper 70’s each time out while juniors Hunter Davis and Daniel Frew have shown the ability to record low rounds but need to continue to work on their consistency.

“With both Austin and Andrew advancing to the sectional last year, they have that postseason experience and should be able to help the younger players in the bigger tournaments. Plus, they are both capable of going low on any given day,’’ Neutzling said. “Davis (Wynn) is a very solid player and Hunter (Davis) is a junior who went out and shot a low round a year ago at the (Southwestern) Conference meet at Stonewolf.

“Daniel (Frew) played junior-varsity all last year and he comes out and is our low man at Alton to start the season. I think our depth will be better this year. We’re probably going to be looking at a score in the mid 80’s for our No 5-6 players. But that will be fine in our (Southwestern) Conference.

Galloway, O’Bryan to set the pace

While the Lancers depth has improved, to be able to be a top five program in southern Illinois this year the Lancers must get low rounds on a consistent basis from Galloway and O’Bryan.

In the case of Galloway, its all about the short game.

“I think that’s been Austin’s primary focus. He just hits the ball so far that he is using more 3-irons off the tee this year. He is able to do that and still have a short iron coming into the green,’’ Neutzling said. “We’re working on his course management and learning to hit shots which give him the best positions of which to shoot at the pins.

“With Andrew (O’Bryan) is just about putting himself in tough situations. But we’re working on that as well.’’

Rounding out the Lancers lineup are seniors Adam Siddle, Jerid McKinney, Anthony Mayo and Matthew Clinton along with junior Garrett Dahm and sophomore Dillon Donjon.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Belleville East looks for improvement during ‘16 golf season."